The Skullcandy Hesh 2 are mixed-use headphones that are, at best, average. They are wireless and sound okay, but you shouldn’t use them for important listening. Their ability to block out noise doesn’t make them flexible enough for loud places. Also, they look a little bit cheap. On the plus side, they’re easy to use, light, and a little bit more airy than other closed-back over-ear headphones.
The Hesh 2 Wireless is a pair of big, but light, over-ear headphones that come in black, blue, gray/yellow, or camouflage colours. The earpads are comfortable, but if you wear them for a long time, they can start to hurt your ears. On the right earcup is an LED status indicator/multi-function button that controls Power, Playback, and Call Management.
[content-egg-block template=offers_logo hide=price]The volume controls work with the volume on your mobile device and don’t work on their own. Depending on how long you press the volume buttons, they can also be used to skip tracks. Since the buttons are raised and shaped like + and – signs, there isn’t usually much confusion even though you can’t see them. Here is also where the pinhole mic is. The micro USB connection for the charging cable is at the top of the left earcup. It’s in an awkward spot, so the earcup has to be in a certain position to show it.
This can make plugging in the cable annoying. The Hesh 2 Wireless can also be used passively, with a cable that is wrapped in cloth. Even better, the cable has a mic and remote built into it, so you can still take calls and control your device without pulling your phone out of your pocket. When you connect the cable, the headphones turn off and the Bluetooth pairing is stopped. When you turn the headphones back on and your phone is in pairing mode, the headphones will reconnect with your phone. The headphones also come with the USB charging cable and a pouch with a drawstring to keep them safe.
The sound of the Skullcandy Hesh 2 Wireless is undemanding; it’s so smooth that it almost melts your brain. It’s about as far from harsh or sibilant as you can get, and as you might expect, the full-size design and larger drivers give the sound a satisfying scale. Skullcandy says that its Supreme Sound technology is made for “powerful bass, warm, natural vocals, and precision highs,” and we can agree with at least some of this. The sound is very warm, and the bass is pumped up.
Skullcandy says the battery will last for 15 hours, and this is what we found. This is better than average and makes these some of the best headphones when it comes to battery life. A feather in the Hesh 2’s cap.